The existence of compulsory school attendance at the secondary level may help to assure school attendance for some students, but it does little to assure that any will learn. Both the laws requiring attendance and the basic high school programs offered in most states must be remodeled. Arizona's system provides a good example. Although Arizona's…

This guide contains materials which are designed to assist rural school systems in assessing educational needs, in systematically planning strategies to develop a dropout reduction program, and in applying for Title III funds. Included are instructions for a survey and an inventory of needs, suggestions for the allocation of resources according to…

Project VIII is an innovative behavioral science-oriented educational program for potential dropouts. It is designed to reduce the dropout rate in grades 9 through 12, increase attendance in grades 7 through 12, decrease discipline referrals and suspensions, increase reading and math achievement in grades 3 through 11, and improve the student's…

FOCUS is an alternative school program for alienated high school students, designed to prevent them from dropping out. The key components of the program are discussed. (KC)

Describes the Occupational Laboratory Achievement Program in Warren, Ohio, city schools designed to help vocational students, particularly disadvantaged youth, to acquire skills and maturity before being placed in the Ohio Occupational Work Experience program operated specifically for academically disadvantaged students. (MF)

The Reading (Pennsylvania) School District, in conjunction with local youth and family services, has developed a program to address the needs of unwed mothers. Its goals are to reduce their dropout rate and to provide support services including child care, transportation, counseling, health care, and instruction in parenthood skills.(TE)

Poor kids quit attending school because they need money for personal or family needs, they cant' compete with their peers financially, their parents don't value education, and/or the curriculum is not geared toward their needs. Work study funds, school-parent communication, curriculum revision and extracurricular participation could reduce their…

Describes Project Kid-Save, a program designed by Arizona's Monument Valley High School to provide a safety net for failing students and to support adoption of the North Central Association's outcomes accreditation approach. Reviews the program's five components and evaluates the relative success of each. (11 citations) (MAB)

A study examined different types of and amount of vocational programming received by 398 secondary students with emotional or behavioral disorders and post-school outcomes. Generic vocational education and on-the-job- training had significant positive relationships with total earnings. All types of vocational education had inverse significant…

Presents findings from the evaluation of the Keep Youth in School program, which was designed to address the drop-out problem among high-risk youth in an urban community. Discusses what was learned during a three-year period in the program's development. (PCB)

In Australia, several governments are providing direct financial grants to students from low-income families to encourage school continuation through grade 12. This paper examines the potential role one scheme (ASTUDY) plays in student decision making about school continuation. Data suggest that the prospect of obtaining a grant did not…

Studied Community-Based Learning program, Job Training Partnership Act-sponsored drop-out prevention effort focusing on youth service, career exploration, civic education, and academic development. Found that learning in community could be effective in improving attendance and school grades, as well as helping students to learn. Major contributor…

Assesses the comparative value of positive lifestyle changes in experimental and control groups of pregnant African American adolescent high school students to determine whether negative outcomes of early childbearing could be prevented. Experimental group students, who were provided several interventions, avoided negative childbearing outcomes…

Describes the Portable Assisted Study Sequence (PASS) program, a coordinated national effort to help migrant students complete their education. Provides information on the following: (1) when PASS can be taken; (2) how it operates; (3) what PASS courses are available; (4) what comprises a PASS packet; (5) how credits are awarded; and (6) program…

Temple-Inland Partnership in Schools (T.I.P.S.) is a pilot partnership between a rural Texas industry and school district intended to help prevent dropouts through tutoring and counseling. The goal is to help students develop skills, confidence, and pride in attaining an education and earning a high school diploma. (SM)